1. Forms of Ownership
Chapter 5

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Learning Objectives
Define sole proprietorship and explain the six advantages and six disadvantages of this ownership model
Define partnership and explain the six advantages and three disadvantages of this ownership model
Define corporation and explain the four advantages and six disadvantages of this ownership model
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3. Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
Learning Objectives
Explain the concept of corporate governance and identify the three groups responsible for ensuring good governance
Identify the potential advantages of pursuing mergers and acquisitions as a growth strategy, along with the potential difficulties and risks
Define strategic alliance and joint venture and explain why a company would choose these options over a merger or an acquisition
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4. Forms of Business Ownership
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Sole Proprietorships
Sole proprietorship
A business owned by a single person
Unlimited liability
A legal condition under which any damages or debts incurred by a business are the owner’s personal responsibility
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6. Advantages of Sole Proprietorships
Simplicity
Single layer of taxation
Privacy
Flexibility and control
Fewer limitations on personal income
Personal satisfaction
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7. Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorships
Financial liability
Demands on the owner
Limited managerial perspective
Resource limitations
No employee benefits for the owner
Finite life span
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Partnerships
Partnership
An unincorporated company owned by two or more people
Limited liability
A legal condition in which the maximum amount each owner is liable for is equal to whatever amount each invested in the business
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Partnerships (cont.)
General partnership
A partnership in which all partners have joint authority to make decisions for the firm and joint liability for the firm’s financial obligations
Limited partnership
A partnership in which one or more persons act as general partners, run the business, and have the same unlimited liability as sole proprietors
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Partnerships
Master Limited Partnership (MLP)
A partnership that is allowed to raise money by selling units of ownership to general public partnerships and can bring together business professionals with diverse skill sets and perspectives.
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Partnerships
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
A partnership in which each partner has unlimited liability only for his or her own actions and at least some degree of limited liability for the partnership as a whole
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12. Advantages of Partnerships
Simplicity
Single layer of taxation
More resources
Cost sharing
Broader skill and experience base
Longevity
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13. Disadvantages of Partnerships
Unlimited liability
Potential for conflict
Expansion, succession, and termination issues
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14. The Partnership Agreement
A partnership agreement should address investment percentages, profit-sharing percentages, management responsibilities and other expectations of each owner, decision-making strategies, succession and exit strategies, criteria for admitting new partners, and dispute-resolution procedures.
A partnership agreement should address investment percentages, profit-sharing percentages, management responsibilities and other expectations of each owner, decision-making strategies, succession and exit strategies (if an owner wants to leave the partnership), criteria for admitting new partners, and dispute-resolution procedures (including dealing with owners who aren’t meeting their responsibilities).
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Corporations
Corporation
A legal entity, distinct from any individual persons, that has the power to own property and conduct business
Shareholders
Investors who purchase shares of stock in a corporation
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Corporations
Private corporation
A corporation in which all the stock is owned by only a few individuals or companies and is not made available for purchase by the public
Public corporation
A corporation in which stock is sold to anyone who has the means to buy it
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17. Advantages of Corporations
Ability to raise capital
Liquidity
Longevity
Limited liability
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18. Advantages of Corporations
Liquidity
A measure of how easily and quickly an asset such as corporate stock can be converted into cash by selling it
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19. Disadvantages of Corporations
Cost and complexity
Reporting requirements
Managerial demands
Possible loss of control
Double taxation
Short-term orientation of the stock market
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20. Special Types of Corporations
Benefit Corporation
A profit-seeking corporation whose charter specifies a social or environmental goal that the company must pursue in addition to profit
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Corporate Governance
Board of directors
A group of professionals elected by shareholders as their representatives, with responsibility for the overall direction of the company and the selection of top executives
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Corporate Governance
Corporate governance
Describes all the policies, procedures, relationships, and systems in place to oversee the successful and legal operation of the enterprise
Also refers to the responsibilities and performance of the board of directors specifically
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23. Corporate Governance (cont.)
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Shareholders
Proxy
A document that authorizes another person to vote on behalf of a shareholder in a corporation
Shareholder activism
Activities undertaken by shareholders to influence executive decision making in areas ranging from strategic planning to social responsibility
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Corporate Officers
Corporate Officers
The top executives who run a corporation
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The highest-ranking officer of a corporation
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26. Mergers and Acquisitions
An action taken by two companies to combine and perform as a single entity
Acquisition
An action taken by one company to buy a controlling interest in the voting stock of another company
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27. Mergers and Acquisitions (cont.)
Hostile takeover
Acquisition of another company against the wishes of management
Leveraged buyout (LBO)
Acquisition of a company’s publicly traded stock, using funds that are primarily borrowed, usually with the intent of using some of the acquired assets to pay back the loans used to acquire the company
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28. Advantages of Mergers and Acquisitions
Increase their buying power as a result of their larger size
Increase revenue by cross-selling products to each other’s customers
Increase market share by combining product lines
Gain access to new expertise, systems, and teams of employees
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29. Disadvantages of Mergers and Acquisitions
Executives have to agree on how the merger will be financed
Managers need to decide who will be in charge after they join forces
Marketing departments need to figure out how to blend product lines, branding strategies, and advertising and sales efforts
Companies must often deal with layoffs
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30. Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures
A long-term partnership between companies to jointly develop, produce, or sell products
Joint venture
A separate legal entity established by two or more companies to pursue shared business objectives
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31. Applying What You’ve Learned
Define sole proprietorship and explain the six advantages and six disadvantages of this ownership model
Define partnership and explain the six advantages and three disadvantages of this ownership model
Define corporation and explain the four advantages and six disadvantages of this ownership model
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32. Applying What You’ve Learned (cont.)
Explain the concept of corporate governance and identify the three groups responsible for ensuring good governance
Identify the potential advantages of pursuing mergers and acquisitions as a growth strategy, along with the potential difficulties and risks
Define strategic alliance and joint venture and explain why a company would choose these options over a merger or an acquisition
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